Changing the character race ?

[Erei]

So when I started I jumped right in, and took the generic greenlander. Mostly because I expected to die fast (reading the game description) and also because I didn't know what half the bonus/malus did (and the greenlander doesn't have any malus).

Now, I'd want to change my character race (to ashlander). I went to the editor but I'm unable to see how to do that (I saw race mentioned in the appearance pannel, but I can't change it).

How would I do that, if it's possible ?

Thanks

[Bogardus Foul]

I am not sure that you can edit your race of a game in progress. If it is that important to you to play something else, you may need to start over.

[Oragepoilu]

Beside hacking the save (either edit memory while running the save, or edit the save itself) I don't think you can do it.

[Erei]

That's weird, I can change pretty much everything, appearance, stats, gender and it seems even the inventory, but not the race ? That's sad :/

[Shidan]

I'd imagine it's possible. But I can't go check it out right now. My computer died this morning, so I have no access to the FCS to play around with it. :(

But the game's files are built to handle any race, so it should be just a matter of changing the right values. In fact, there used to be a bug where you could change race at the plastic surgeon, and it didn't seem to cause any issues.

[Erei]

Originally posted by Shidan:

I'd imagine it's possible. But I can't go check it out right now. My computer died this morning, so I have no access to the FCS to play around with it. :(

But the game's files are built to handle any race, so it should be just a matter of changing the right values. In fact, there used to be a bug where you could change race at the plastic surgeon, and it didn't seem to cause any issues.

Sorry to hear that :/

I guess it's possible, it would be weird to not be able to, considering, from what I heard, you also was able to import a save and change the race by doing so. But I swear, I looked everywhere and the only mention of the race was in the appearance pannel, and it was impossible to change it.

[Erei]

I feel like an idiot because you are right and I didn't see it. I was so focused on searching the damned race option I didn't thought of that.
But actually I think I'm going to do the opposite. I can safely delete (dismiss in game) the "main" character. I did it for giggles and apparently it's fine (I reverted, obviously^^). I guess that's because there are no main character as far as the game is concerned (you can even start with several characters).

So, the idea would be the make a new save, new char, and "import" this guy in my old save by copying the platoon file. Also, change his stats to be the same than my old character. Dismiss the old character, and it should be ok.

I wouldn't loose anything, building, research, gear, money....

I'm going to try, sound "easy" enough (famous last words). Many thanks !


EDIT : It worked. I have no issues (besides the impossibility to have mods, at least the one I had, but it might come from today's patch)

[Erei]

So far it works. For the placement of the character in the squad, or the squad in the menu, you can drag and drop them at will, so it's no an issue.
I solved my mod issue to, apparently the game doesn't like when you drop a random folder in the main game folder (I put my save there as a backup).

So what I did is rather simple.
-First save the game with the character you want to change. Put the character you want to change, naked with no inventory, alone in a squad.
-Save another game, with a new game (one with a single character start is easier). Make the character you want to have (appearance)
-Make a backup save of your old save, for safety reasons
-open the editor (when you start the game you have the choice between kenshi and the editor)
-doesn't matter what you select when you load, then click on "open any", and open the save you want to change. Pick the platoon folder, and the squad where your guy is located. THe save folder is in the installation folder (program files/steam/steamapps/common/kenshi/save)
-open all the files on the left, and screenshot/note the stats (you don't need inventory as it's empty, and all the instance stuff are also useless). Also, if it's a race/gender change, then you don't need the appearance either
-open the new save, and replace the stats by the stats you copied earlier. That way your new character will have the exact same stats as your old.
-Save
-Go to your save folder, copy the newgame squad file fin the platton folder where the character is located. Delete the old character squad in the old save. Put the new squad in the old save, you might want to change its name, so you don't erase another squad.
-Start the game, your old game should have a squad with the new character, same stats and everything, Just pick your gear back and put it back to the proper squad to end the whole process. You can also save when you have one of your other guy selected, then load with the "reset squad position checked, so your new character will be with the others, and you don't have to cross half the map with him.